Billiard-table.



frame/1507":

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS SHEET I.

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BILLIAR D TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21. I9! 1.

1,1 58,793. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

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GUSTAVE CQNS'I'ANT nnooor, or

PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIG-NOR T SOCIETE BRUNSWICK- BALKE-COLLENDER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION.

BILLIARID -TABLE. f

France, general manager, a citizen of the Republic of France, have invented a new Billiard-Table, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in V billiard tables and particularly relates to Beds of this material with an improved construction for mounting and securing the rails of a billiard table in which there is employed a slate bed.

Because of cheapness of material and economy of manufacture and various other reasons, billiard tables asnow generally constructed employ. as a playing surface beds of slate. The use of suchmaterial, while it is considered as the best for the purpose, is open to several objections. As now generallygconstructed, the rails of the table are secured to the slate bed by bolts passing through the rails and into the bedhorizontally, the rails beingpositioned outside of and against the outer edges. of the bed.

therails thus supported are noisy, because of the resounding of the rails caused by vibra'tion due. to the impact of the balls. i It is very diflicult. to so secure-the rails to beds. of thismaterial because of the characteristics of slate, which is very apt to split under the pressure of the bolts used for securing the rails in position. Further, this construction results in the disadvantage that. the entire weightnof the I railsrests on the bolts, which tends to bend and loosen them. Because ofthe tendency of slate to separate or split into slabs it is almost impossible to firmly tighten the bolts without risking splitting the bed, .with the result that the fastened, easily loosen. Further, it happens in such constructions that the rails havea tendency to curve lengthwise, and the bolts being placed so low are not properly positioned to counteract this tendency, Which is especially marked when the bolts are loosened. Furthermore, with such constructions the{ players are very apt to bend or break OH", or, at least, loosen, the rails, which have no support except the bolts, by sitting on the edge of. the-table. Constructions have been proposed which obviate some of these disadvantages. For instance, -it has been proposed toemploy a vertical bolt passing through the slateand intothe cushion strip Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 21, 1911. Serial No. 650,521.

bolts never being very tightly Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

which supports'the cushion. In such constructions, however, the members which constitute the rails are set square against the end of the slate bed. Such constructions, in adchtlon to being noisy, are, for the reasons heretofore pointed out, weak, and are objectionable for this and other reasons.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rail construction in which the rail and the cushion strip and cushion restdirectly on the upper face of the slate bed, the rail being of suflicientdimensions toprovide a firm bearing and the rail being secured in position by a suitable numberof bolts pass ing through the slate bed and the support for the bed, there being provided anchoring means for firmly anchoring the bolts. In constructions embodying the invention the rail is positioned on the surface of the bed so that the outer edge of the rail is substantially flush with the outer edge of the bed, an ornamental facing strip and top strip or rail covering the same and giving a finished appearance to the table, being employed.

' For a better understanding of the invention, a detailed description of the same will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this Specification, it being understood that the description is of one of a set of four rails, the construction of all the rails being similar.

Referring now to the drawings: Figure l is a section ofa portion of the edge of a billiard table employing a slate bed and bed. supporting frame, showing the improved rail construction and one means for positioning the same on the bed; Fig. 2 is a top view of part of the construction shown 'n Fig.1; Fig. 3 is aview showing in detail a preferred form of bolt used in the construction illustrated. in Figs. 1 and 2; Figs. 4 and .5 are views similar to Figs. .1 and 2, showing a modified construction for anchoring therail. bolts and asomewhat different form of bolt; Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2, showing a further modification of devices which may be employed for anchoring the bolts; Figs. 8 and 9 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2, showing a modified form of cushion rail and a modification of the devices employed for anchoring the bolts.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the bed of the table is and carried on suitable standards which-are not shown as they are unnecessary for an understanding of the invention. Mounted on the slate bed is the cushion rail 6, which, in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, is of wood. This rail is of suflicient width to afi'ord a firm bearing on the bed and to receivethe fastening devices heretofore referred to. This rail is mounted onthe bed so that its outer edges flush or substantially flush with the outer edge of thebed,

so that it is entirely supported by the bed and the strains are taken up by the bed.

Securedto the inner edgeof the cushion iltil his the smaller 011811 S p f which liill be of rubber or of any other suitable detired material. The strip f is removably secured to the rail byglue or in any other desired manner, for instance, by the, screws 2- shown in Fig. 8. The cushion h is'secured to this cushion strip f in any suitable manner, as by gluing. It will thus be seen that in this construction the whole weight of the cushion rail, cushion strip and'cushion, which form the rail structure, is carried directly on the bed and any strains on these parts are borne directly by the bed. The cushion rails are secured in position on the bed by a. suitable number of bolts 10 which pass up through the bed, bed-support and the rail, and are provided with anchoring devices into which the bolts are screwed. These anchoring devices may be widely varied in-construction. l In Figs. 1 and 2 's shown a convenient construction in which there is providedja "metallic anchor bar a: which extends horizontallyof the rail, one of these bars being provided for eachof the rails. This bar sets into the rail, as shown in Fig. 1, and it may befurther secured, if desired, by screws 1 shown. in Fig.2, passing through the top rail cl, which is provided for finishing off the rail structure on. the top. The metal bar has, at suitable intervals, apertures into which are screwed the threaded ends of the bolts u, the bolts when this construction is used being provided with; a shoulder u and a hole t, which may be employed for setting upqthe bolts. WVhen the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is em ployed the partsd, :11, Z), 7 andh are assembled together and the bolts v turned into the metal bars. vThey are then dropped through suitable slots or holes in thebed a and bed support 0 are set up by nuts 3 and washers 1", by means of which the whole rail structure can be firmly clamped to the bed without risk of splitting it. After the bolts are screwed up and the rail structure firmly clamped in place, an ornamental facing strip slate supporting threaded 6 may be placed against the outer edge of the rail and bedz support andpmay $053 58? cured in positionbyscrews 3 taking into the 7 bed support.

c In the construction illustrated inFigs. i and 5 the metal anchor bar 00 isrepla-ced by threaded nuts 0; which are set into vthe rail 6 below the rail top d, these nuts being placed at suitable 'ntervals along the rail.

In this construction the bolts shownin 3 may be employed or'aplain bolt inay be employed,.-s'uchfas shown in Fig. 4:. In as sembling the constructionshown in Figs-14 and 5, the bolts o- 'witl'r interposed washer r are screwed into the nuts w from below.

inFlgs; 6 and7a further modification oi: the anchoring devices is shown. In thls construction threaded nuts 00 areemployed whichare slipped through suitable apertures or slides'vl cut into the side of the rail Z) and the bolts '0 are interposed from beneath the slate support a and the nuts 00 screwed up through the aperturec'aiter which fac ing a is put in place.

In Figs. 8 and 9 amodified construction of the rail is shown consisting of a hollow metallic bar of shape in cross'section and marked 6 this constructon giving great rigidity and being desirable in some in' stances. In this construction the anchoring devices are similar to those shown in Figs; 6 and 7, the nut mbeing'screwed'on the-bolt '0 through the open end of the rail '6 the ornamental strip a beingplaced in position after the bolt'flis set up;

" ,IVith the construction sofar describedin addition toobtaining strength and rigidity g a very COIISICTBIZI-blG cl1in1nut1on-,,of noise is obtained.- If desired, a still-g;further 'diminution of nor e, a practically noiseless construction can beproduced hyplafcing between the rail b, cushion SiZllP and slate a, a thin strip o1"; felt; oil'cloth, or other sound insulating 'mater al J g. The construc tion described; in wh ch the rail'lrests ch-" rectly on thefslate' slab; permits ofthe in sfertion of this stripo f feltfand 1 ro vid'es a very desirable featurebf construction. I f

With the constructionsofardescribed the whole rail structureis supported directly on "the bed of the table; danger of splittingthe bed is avoided by" the use of thebolts pass ingupward throughthe slate and slate sup port, and the "bolts may be set up as tightly 1 p "er-act iitto -the table and preventing the "tendency-ofthe, rails to warp horizontally as the weight as'desired, thus securing a of t e rails rests directly on the table, there is no bearing. strain on thebolts, which consequently'do not becomebjent or easily loosened; the correct angle which is soimportant to account of" the great firmness of therailsJ It will be understood that the rails may be of somewhat difier'ent' form thanas130 keep perfect is'easily maintained on p a shown, and. the anchoring devices shown may be varied somewhat intheir details. -Th e invention is therefore notto be limitedto the exact construction shown but :may be varied to include constructions which ,Wlll be within the scope .ofthe invention and the claims hereunto appended.

What is claimed is: a J

1. In a billiard table thecombination with a slate supporting i'rame, of a slate bed resting thereon, a set of cushion rails, removable cushion strips securedto the inner edges of anchoring means for the-bolts carried by the rails into which means the bolts are screwed. 2. In a billiard table the combination with and the a slate supporting frame, of a slate bed resting thereon, a set of cushion rails, removable cushion stripssecured to the inner edges of the rails, cushions secured to the strips, a thicknessof sound insulating material between the rails, the cushion strips and the slate, said rails and strips being supported on the slate bed'and having a bearing thereon, and the outer edges of the rails being substantially flush with the outer edge of the slate bed whereby strains on the cushion rails are borne by the bed, bolts passing upward through the slate and slate bed,'a-nd accessible from the exterior of the table and anchoring means for the bolts carried by the rails into. which means thebolts are screwed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAVE CONSTANT DROUOTJ I lVitnesses;

H. A. AoRcE, I

BENJAMIN BLooHE.

Gopiesof this patent may be obtained for. five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

